14 replies to this topic

[zox]

Collected post nuptial flight on my car in a parking lot

Date was around Sep 1

Size is 8-9mm

Coloration is a dark reddish-brown with lighter banding on the abdomen, which is a reflective velvet texture

 

I apologize but these are the clearest images I can get right now with my current camera setup (and her founding chamber is a bit untidy).

 

Nanitic:

 

Here are some shots closer to when they were collected, not as much magnification, although a bit clearer:

 

http://imgur.com/a/coEIL#0

Edited by zox, October 18 2014 - 9:22 AM.

[dean_k]

*Deleted*

 

I didn't read the topic title. The OP already knows it's Lasius.

Edited by dean_k, October 18 2014 - 9:09 AM.

[zox]

=) no problem dean_k, thanks for confirming and chiming in!

 

Added a link to some other pics I had forgot about.

[Gregory2455]

Well, she looks pretty fully clausteral, other than that I cannot help. I hardly know the Lasius we have here, how could I figure out what these are?

[AntsAreUs]

This definitely looks like Lasius neglectus to me.

[Gregory2455]

Actually, yeah it kind of does...

[AntsAreUs]

Hey Gregory I made up my mind of what type of ant I want the most, it is Cephalotes, they look so cool. There is one called a golden turtle ant (Cephalotes clypeatus

[Gregory2455]

Cephalotes are one of my favorites!

[AntsAreUs]

Look at this link I found, I gave it to Crystal on her list of links http://www.alexander...t-of-Ant-Genera

[Gregory2455]

Seen it, been there, done that...   

[zox]

Well, upon further browsing around on antweb, and far too much time spent staring at these tiny little gals, I am leaning towards either pallitarsis or neoniger. I don't see that neglectus is anywhere in North America, unless I'm missing something on antweb?

 

Either way, I have some new close-up filters ordered for my cameras, so hopefully I can get some better macro shots soon!

[dean_k]

Shouldn't it be hibernating by now?

[James C. Trager]

This is almost certainly L. neoniger, though with these pictures I can't see the confirming hair pattern. L. neglectus is strictly Eurasian, and L. pallitarsis is more northern.

 

dean_k - L. neoniger has flights this time of year (even later, farther south). In fact, after a spell of wet, then too-cool days, I'll be out looking for flight activity this afternoon here in eastern Missouri. After mating, the queens generally overwinter in their first little nest chamber before beginning to raise any workers the next spring. 

[AntsAreUs]

I thought neglects because of that orange gaster. Sorry if it is wrong.

[James C. Trager]

No apology necessary. Ant identification is a technical, tricky affair. You got the genus and species group right, better than many would have.